Local News

Former LaFollette Police Department officer Michael Shane Baker is behind bars. He turned himself into Claiborne County Deputies early Monday morning. He was the target of a multi-agency, two-month manhunt that landed him on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 10 most-wanted list.

Baker,39, of 802 W. Jacksboro Road in New Tazewell, contacted a captain at the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department to say he was tired of running, according to Claiborne County Sheriff David Ray.

Emerson Properties recently received a tax break amounting to just under $42,500 after the Campbell County Board of Equalizations reassessed 241 pieces of its properties. Emerson Properties owner Boog Potter feels this reduction still isn’t enough.

“It’s still too high,” Potter said. “I bought the property in 2009 for less than $1 million.”

Potter believes the property was appraised too high by the property assessor’s office.

Cox died from malnutrition while in the care of his nephew John Lowe in 2010.

On Friday, Lowe entered a no contest plea to criminally negligent homicide and gross neglect of an impaired adult. Despite Lowe pleading no contest to the charges Criminal Court Judge Shayne Sexton ruled he was guilty of the crimes.

The LaFollette City Council will accept bids for three roofing projects at its meeting Tuesday. These projects involve repairing the roofs of three city buildings: fire hall three, the West LaFollette Community Center and the East LaFollette Community Center.
At the meeting Sept. 4, the city council decided to rebid the roofing project because the bids that were opened on Aug. 23 didn’t conform to the minutes of the Aug. 7 meeting. While on Aug. 7, the council decided to bid the three projects separately, the bids were advertised as a package.
Recycling

Friday morning, Jacksboro Elementary School kicked off the accelerated reader program with a parade that celebrated reading.
“We thought it would be a good day to have a parade since the high school’s having a parade today,” Principal Joan Crutchfield said. “Our theme is ‘elect to read’ since it’s election year.”

On Monday, a local dementia support group will begin meeting at Indiana Avenue Baptist Church.
The group, which is affiliated with Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc., will meet the first Monday of every month from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be a discussion, information will be distributed, and there will be a time for sharing.
“Just supporting each other, and giving them information where they can get help,” Charlene Partin, of IABC said.
The group is open to caregivers, family members, and friends of people afflicted with dementia.

Beginning today, the Shepherd’s Home Thrift Store will celebrate its one-year anniversary. The celebration is a three-day event, which ends Saturday.
“We’re (going to) have snacks for everybody,” store manager Barbara Jo Sterrett said.
There will be finger foods and beverages. The store will be decorated with balloons and signs expressing gratitude for the customers, Sterrett said.

Wednesday night, the second annual Fields of Faith event will be held at Campbell County High School.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is hosting Fields of Faith in partnership with the Campbell County Youth Leaders Alliance.
Last year, Fields of Faith was held at the football field at Jacksboro Middle School.
“Last year we had between 700 and 800,” said Brian Miracle, youth pastor at LaFollette United Methodist Church.